COLBINABBIN'S bid to go one better than its 2019 runner-up season in the Heathcote District league will feature a ruck tandem of the Sirett brothers.

After five years away at Birchip-Watchem in the North Central league, Lochlan Sirett is returning to his home club Colbinabbin where he will ruck alongside brother, Hadleigh.

"Colbo is my home club and I think for anyone who leaves their home club there's always a desire to return home," Sirett said this week.

Sirett last played with the Grasshoppers in 2015 - a year in which they lost the preliminary final to North Bendigo and he represented the HDFNL in inter-league against Central Murray.

During his stint with Birchip-Watchem Sirett coached the Bulls from 2018 to 2020.

The Bulls lost both the 2018 and 2019 grand finals - as well as 2017 - before last year's 2020 season was cancelled because of COVID-19.

"I feel now like I've got two homes with Colbo and Birchip and to me, that's probably more important than success," Sirett said.

Sirett's time at the Bulls also included winning the NCFL's Feeny Medal in 2018 - one of four consecutive ruckmen to have won the league's best and fairest.

Sirett returns to Colbinabbin with the Grasshoppers coming off a 2019 grand final loss to North Bendigo in the last game they played.

"We're really happy to get the big fella back with us," Colbinabbin coach Julian Bull said.

"Fridge is obviously a quality ruckman, but he also adds some real value playing forward.

"He's played a lot of his football as a forward and he's a really good mark and kick for goal as well.

"And so is Hadleigh, but he hasn't been able to be used there because he's played a lone hand in the ruck for a fair while.

"So we see them both being able to share time in the ruck and forward.

"They are both different in the way they play... Hadleigh is really good at ground level and Fridge is probably better in the air, but both have a real competitive streak in them.

"They are the sort of big men you want who are going to throw their weight around and get you five or six tackles a game."

As well as Sirett, the Grasshoppers have another former player returning, with Daniel Hill back at M.J. Morgan Oval from Rochester to slot into the half-back line.

Also joining the Grasshoppers is former Calder Cannon and VFL-listed player Ben Barton, who will also be part of the Colbinabbin defence.

"Both Dan and Ben are really good marks and use the ball well, so ideally we'll be able to play them together off half-back," Bull said.

Hill and Barton come on the back of the Grasshoppers' earlier signings in August of the three Fitzgerald brothers - Laine, Nash and Logan.

And in a further boost for the Grasshoppers, centre half-back Damien Carmody is likely to play with the club again having set to be a departure last year.

The Grasshoppers' local and Melbourne-based groups resumed pre-season training this week.

If you are seeing this message you are a loyal digital subscriber to The Bendigo Advertiser, as we made this story available only to subscribers. Thankyou very much for your support and allowing us to continue telling Bendigo's story. We appreciate your support of journalism in our great city.